Rheumatoid Arthritis Increases in Women, Declines in Men

Forty years of declining rheumatoid arthritis numbers in women have made an about-face, according to a new Mayo Clinic study. Prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis has increased in women and declined in men, and environmental factors may be to blame.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects 2.1 million people in the United States, and 1 to 3 percent of women can expect to develop the disease during their lifetime, according to the American College of Rheumatology. Women are also three times more likely to have the chronic inflammatory disease, which attacks the joints, significantly affects quality of life, and reduces survival.

The recent upsurge in rheumatoid arthritis incidence in women from 1995 to 2007 was investigated by a research team from the Mayo Clinic, who noted that the rise followed a 40-year period of decline. Under direction of Sherine Gabriel, MD, MSc, the investigators expanded on prior research (1955-1994) and evaluated medical data from 1,761 Minnesota residents age 18 and older who had received one or more diagnoses of arthritis (not including osteoarthritis or degenerative arthritis). The review revealed a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in 466 patients, of whom 321 were females.

Advertisement

The researchers noted a “modest increase of RA incidence in women during the study period” of 2.5 percent per year, according to Dr. Gabriel. Among men, there was a 0.5 percent decline. Previous research indicates that risks for rheumatoid arthritis include environmental factors such as cigarette smoking, a deficiency of vitamin D, and lower doses of estrogens found in oral contraceptives. The Mayo Clinic researchers speculated that these factors may have a role in the newest rise in the disease in women.

Smoking, for example, has been decreasing in both sexes, but the decline in women has been at a slower pace than in men. The newer oral contraceptives contain lower doses of estrogens than those in older medications, which means women are getting less protection against the development of rheumatoid arthritis.

Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to rheumatoid arthritis in numerous studies. One of the most recent studies published in Environmental Health Perspectives in March 2010 found that women who live in the northern latitudes, which get less sunlight, are more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis. A Tufts Medical Center study also noted that disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis have been associated “to some extent to vitamin D deficiency.”

The results of the current study showing an increase in rheumatoid arthritis among women and a decline among men need to be examined further to determine the various causative factors. Dr. Gabriel noted that “Reasons for the increase in incidence we found are unknown, but environmental factors likely play a role and should be further explored.”

Desert Harvest is a provider of nutritional and natural skin care products, harnessing the extraordinary healing powers of the aloe vera plant so that you can unleash the benefits in your own body. The founders of Desert Harvest sponsored the first aloe vera clinical trial, and their supplement relieved 92% of interstitial cystitis symptoms.

The first line of defense to stopping knee pain in the obese is to lose weight. While weight loss may provide some relief, how you lose the weight plays a major role in whether or not knee cartilage further disintegrates.

You have likely heard the buzz about turmeric. This cousin of ginger, common in Indian cooking may be the most effective nutritional supplement you can add to your diet. Keep reading for my recipe for a delicious turmeric latte that you will want to drink every day.